During the phenomenon, dozens of flights had to be cancelled, while a leading charity also warned those with severe asthma to check forecasts and stay indoors where possible to avoid the dust.

Sonia Munde, head of the helpline at Asthma UK, said: “We are deeply concerned about the toxic air from Saharan dust that Hurricane Ophelia has churned up, as this could pose a severe risk for the 5.4 million people in the UK who have asthma.

“Winds picking up dust and particles in the air could trigger potentially fatal asthma attacks.”

The so-called ‘red sky’ came exactly 30 years on from the Great Storm of 1987, which saw millions of people across the south east waking up to the sight of uprooted trees, damaged homes and altered landscapes, after 100mph winds battered the region.

Christmas 2018 and the Northern Lights are welcomed to Bexleyheath on Saturday, November 17 with a spectacular mix of music and dance from stilt walkers to bhangra dancers, and acoustic artists to fire shows.